Unclassified Unclassified Low-cost Miniature Interface and Control Systems for Smart Sensors, Tactical Radios, and Computer Networks

Low-cost Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) hardware and software products can be used to build small control, processor and interface devices suitable for current and future tactical radio systems. For example, the input from video cameras, infrared imagers, acoustic transducers, proximity detectors, laser range finders, and other sensor input can be digitized, compressed, processed and transmitted via SINCGARS radios when a soldier presses a button. Tactical radios could also be connected to ethernet or telephone lines, and a radio could become a field-accessible email address, file server, or message bulletin board. These capabilities can be developed and fielded quickly for a very modest cost.